Wrapping machine



Nov.` 13 ,v 1923. 1,474,181

C. E. STEERE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1923 13 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 13, 1923.

WRAPPING Filed March 8, 1923 C. E. STEERE MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 13 1923. 1,474,181

c.E.sTEERE wnAPPINe MAcHmE Filed March s, 192s '1s Sheets-Sheet 4 BY mmf/9.7mm

Nov. 13, 1923. 1,474,181

c. E. STEERE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1925 13 Sheets-Slt 3 Pov.

1,474,181 c. E. sTEERE WRAPPING-MACHINE Filed March 8, 1923 13 Sheets-St 5 llo Nov. 13,1923. 1,474,181

c. E. sTEERE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1923 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 13, 1923.

C. E. STEERE WRAPPING. MACHINE Filed March 8, 1925 1.3 Sheetsz-.Sheel'I 9 Nov. 13, 1923. 1,474,181

c. E. STEERE WRAPPING MACHINE.

Filed March 8, 1923 13 Sheets-Sheet lO W R'd/ a 25 27 3 24* Q 0 Z/ 0 9 O (D 9 9 0 23 30 1 33 fl/ z, O f I O 26 /6X C 32 40 37 fe o 6 /a o 36 36 8 0 g Li o 36 47 47 as o -LIJ- 26 O d'0 O 'H l \INVENTOR Z/IRENCESTEERE Nov. 13, 1923.

1,474,181 c. E. STEERE WRAPPI NG MACHINE Filed March 8, 1925 13 Sheets-Shea?l l1 fag/' INVENTOR /IL 62. HRA-Nef 6 TEE/2 E Nov. 13, 1923. 1,474,181

cuE. sTr-:ERE

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1925 l5 Sheets-Sheet l5 Ik?, Z2

l N VE NT CARRE/vcr 67E E PaieniedNey. 13, 1923.

UNITED STAT-Es ACLARENCE E. S'IEERE, Off REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA WRAPPING MACHINE.

'Application lerd Haroh 8, 1923. Serial No. 623,640.

To all wlzt. m t lmay concern.:

Be it known that I. CLARENCE E. STEERE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Redondo Beach, in the .county of. Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain -new and useful Imp-rovements in. Wrapping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for wrapping chewing gum into packages encased in parain paper and hermetically sealed by heat.

One of the objects of my; invention is to provide a machine of this character which will be simple, durable and relia'ble in construction and effective and eiicient in operation.

A difficulty heretofore obtainingin this art is that when a bunch of gums is wrapped in waxed paper, sealed by heat, and cooled, and then passed through a mechanism which applies a glued label around four sides of the package; the wax paper has a tendency to break open, due to the natural spring of the bunch of gums before it enters the mechanism which puts on the label and I have therefore provided means whereby the bunch of gums is only partially wrapped in waxed paper and then the label is wrapped around the waxed paper, and after ad-l esive is applied to the wrapped ends of the label, the package is then held together while the adhesive is brought into contact, and then the heat is applied to the package, thus simultaneously heating the waxed paper and drying the adhesive on the label.

I have found that this eifectually prevents` the package from breaking open.

In order to produce this desired improvement I have provided a novel combination in which the wrapper of waxed paper is not wound or folded intimately around the bunch of gums. vand it's folds are not sealed together until after the label with its adhesive is applied and xed in place and preventing the melted wax or adhesive from gumming the machine.

Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional elevation through the middle of the machine at the feed end.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental continuation of the same view, showing the package assembling meansjand the discharge end of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a. fragmental longitudinal sec tional elevation through the middle of the machine at the` feed end, viewed from the opposite side of Fig. 1, with the machine` advanced 180 degrees from the position. shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 -is a fragmental longitudinal elevation at the feed end of the drive side of the machine. i l

Fi 5 is a continuation of Fig. 4 and showing the dischargeV end of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a continuation of Fig. 3 and showing the discharge end of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the machine..

Fig. 9 is a fraginental longitudinal ver tical section of the machine on line m9, Figs. 7 and 8. l

Fig. 10 is fragment-al detail plan of the knife operating means.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental elevation of the receiving end of the machine, partly in scction on line m11, Fig. 9, showing the knife operating means and means for driving wheels 18 and 19.

'Fig 12 is a fragmental plan view of the inside wrapper folding mechanism in opera tion on three pieces or slices of gum, showing three simultaneous steps in the folding of papers. respectively around slices of gum` and three stages of folding the ends of a paper around a slice of gum.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of Fig. 12 showing also the conveyor and fragments of the adjacent slotted wheels. Four stations of a slice of gum are indicated.

Fig. 14 is a section on line m, Figs. 12 and 13 showing the first wrapper withits ends bent at right angles to the slice of gum Fig. 15 is a section on line as, Fig.k 12, showing the first wrapper completely folded around the slice. l

Fig. 16l is a front elevation of what is shown in Fig. 13 omitting the gum, the slotted wheels and the conveyor. The mechanism shown in Figs/12, 14, 15 and 11" is old and well known and is not claimed. hetein, Ibut is simply shown for convenience of description of this machine and its opera tion.

Fig. 17 is a detail side elevation on a larger scale showing the stacker wheel andl an arm operated by the torsio'n spring.

Fig. 18 is a plan showing detail of wheels 59 and 60 and operating spring on ejector 93.

liti

Fig. 19 is a detail showing the torsion A and the sliding block '131, and parts coopla'rating therewith.

. ,.Fig; i1sa detail on'thescale'of Fig.

rratchet pawl 4, Fig. 1, movably carried bythe bell'crank 5, said crank 5 being sus# tained by cam4 rod 5, cam roller 6a and showing member 142. 1 1- l f Fig. 21 is an end levatxon' ofmembelys142.

Fig. 22' is 'a fragmental detail on line fm2,

Fig. 23, showing heating and'coolin meansl `Y Fig$23 is va section on line as, 1g. 22.

In order to giveaI general idea of the' construction shown I will first outline broadly the construction of the machine.'

Referring tothe drawings: The gum being cut into thin rectangular slices is vplaced lvertically kinmult-iple with the lower edge' resting upon a horizontal endless belt 1, Fig. 1, Belt 1 is driven by the ratchet wheel .2, belt pulley 3, -mov'ably' mounted on shaft 3,

Said shaft being housed on its outer ends Aby brackets 3", Fig. 1, and`3", Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Ratchet'wheel '2 is driven by the given a reciprocating motion by cam 7a Aon shaft 6,.Fig. 7.

`Belt 1 is carried in its outer position by idler pulley 7 said pulley being\movably mounted in sliding blocks 8, which are held by studs 9 belt taut.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. l3; belt 1,

`for the purpose of keeping the being driven as described more than the thickness of one piece of gum, will keep the gum packed against rigid stop. 10, thereby forcing yielding members 11 Hush with the face of stop 10, said yielding members 11 being held against the 'face of the first gum byl spring tension, thereby forcing the firsty gumagainst the second with suicient pressure to prevent the first gum from dropping through slot 12 when the first gum is .moved across said slot by belt 1 against stop 10. Belt 1 being driven more than the thickness of one piece of gum, will slip under the pile of gums .the difference between the 'move-- ment and the thickness 0f one gum, after the first gum is against stop 10.

A sufficient number of gums must be kepton belt 1 to have friction great enough to push the forward gums across the -blank portion forming the lsmooth slideway 12 between pulley 3 and stop 10, or a weight longer than said portion must be placed upon the beltbehind the pile of gums, in order to f push the last gum against stop 10.

- Slot 12 is cut inthe bottom of trough 13,

which is sustained by shaft 3a on its inner 'end anden' its' outer 'en d' 'by braces not shown.

, The frst gum-being held against stop 10 is under plate 14 said plate being integral with shaft 15, and given a reciprocating motion by crank arms 16, Fig. 4, shown dotted in Fig. 3, crank arms 16 being on the 1- i? o f shaft 36, said 'shaft` being kgiven a Lassiter rockinglmotioii by-,eccentric 37l on 'shaft 6,?, i

Fig. 1 said-platef14rforcingthe first'gum throng slot 12 and against apiece of aper 14 in which it' isl to be wrapped t ence through s161517 -intoslotted wheels 18,

lv and 19, Fig. 3. The foregoing aper in which it is to be wrapped, the fol-A owing described mechanism is provided to feed and cut the piece of paper:

The paper is pulled oil'l a roll, suspended on shaft 20, by feedv rolls21 and 22, Figs.

A'3, 9, 10, 11, which are intermittently moved pawl 24, and gears 25 and 26, Fig. 4, on the ends of rolls 21 and 22. Said gears are shown asfrictiony by geared 'ratchet 23, Fig. 4,

described mechanism being, lprovided to carry the piece of gum to the gears for purposes of illustration.' Pawl 24 s is carried by bell crank lever 27 and given a reciprocating movementby link 28, Fig. 4 and arm' 16 on rock shaft 36.

- A forward movement of rolls 21 and 22 will thus forward le paper betwen cutting blades 29 and 30 and into slot 31,` Figs. 1 and 4. thus bringing the paper 14' under 'slot 12 Figs. 1 and 9. Said forward movement of the paperwill takeplace during the upward ratchet 35Fig. 11, which isshown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, such revolution taking place durlng the upward travel of plate 14, and the forward motion, of the piece of paper.

lRatchet 35 is driven by arm 38 on rock shaft 36, through link4 39, pawl 40 and bell crank 41. Figs. 4, 10 and 11. 5

Wheels 18 and 19 are spaced with their outer faces equal to the ends of the gum and spaced apart to clear conveyor 42. Wheels 18 and 19 in revolving bring the gum partially wrapped in the piece of paper in front of conveyor 42` Figs. 1 and 3, which conveyor 1s integral with conveyors 43, 44 and 45. Said conveyors are housed in ways in brackets 46, which in turnis suspended on f parallel arms 47 and 48, on shafts 49and 50,

the whole being4 sustained b vcam rod 51, cam roller 52 'and given a reciprocating' motion by cam 53. Said conveyors are given a longtudinal reciprocating motion by arm 54 and link 55. said arm 54 being integral with shaft 36. which is 'given` an oscillating-mo-v tion previously described. A movement of arm 54 carries conveyor 42- to a position a small distance ahead ofl the position occu -pled by conveyor 4 3in Fig. 1, thus carrying the gu'rn'v out of wheels 18'an'dl19 under plate 56. the ends of the gum fittinginto slot 57 Fig. 1, and 58, Fig. 3. Said conveyors, moving forward in a raised position as shown by Fig. 1, will drop to a lowered positlon as shown by Fig. 3, by the action of cam .53, Fig. 1, remaining in the lowered positlon during the backward travel of arm 54 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1, when the conveyors will be raised by cam 53, thus moving the gum one by one and step by step under plate 56, completing the folding of the wrapping paper around the ends of the gum and delivering the gum into slotted wheels 59, Fig. 1, and 60, Fig. 3. Wheels 59 and 60 are spaced with their outer faces equal to the ends of the gum and are fixed to shaft 61, which shaft is journaled on the ends by boxes bolted to the main frame, as 62, Fig. 4. Fixed to shaft 61 is ratchet 63 driven by pawl 64, bell crank 65 link 66 and arm 67 on rock sha-ft 36 Fig. 4.

It is one of the functions of the machine to wrap a niece of paper around the gum,

said piece of paper belng approximately the same length as the gum, and stick the ends of the piece of paper together with an adhesive, thus forming a cover open at the ends This function is accomplished by the following described mechanism. The Daper is cut in pieces and staclzed vertically in a magazine, the corners of which are angles 68 and 69, Fig. 1 and 70 and 71, Fig. 3. One end of the piece of pa er rests on roller 72 said roller having a rictional surface Vfor about one half of its periphery, the remaining portion of the periphery being practically frictionless, said frictional surface being less than the length of the piece of paper. Said roller 72 is driven by shaft 73, gears 74, 75 and 76, Fig. 4, the latter gear meshing with geared ratchet 23. Said gears are shown as friction gears for purposes of illustration. Gears 75 and 76 are integral and revolve on pin 77.

The other end of the piece of paper rests on needle 78. Figjl which penetrates one or more papers and prevents more than the bottom piece ofpaperbeingremoved. This removal is accomplished by a single revolution of roll 72, `by the action of the frictional surface against the piece of paper, which is thrown down into holder 79, and into the path of the gum as shown by position 80 Fig. 1. lVhen the gum is pushed into the slot in wheels 59 and 60 by conveyor 45 it will carry the piece of paper with it from position 80 to position 81. in which position the piece of paper is wrapped partially aroundv the gum, one end of the piece of paper protruding from the slot in wheels 59 and 60 as shown by position 82 and 83 Fig. 1. In position 83 the natural spring in the piece of paper brings it to, rest against deflector'84, in which osition fingers 85 are swung into the posltion shown in F ig. 3 froni the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position fingers 85 are immersed in adhesive material, and in position shown by Fig. 3 fingers 85strike the protruding `end of the piece of paper and apply the adhesive.

Fingers 85 are clamped to shaft 86, journaled in box 87, on the outer end of shaft 86 is pinion 88, Fig. 3, meshing with segment 89, shown-as friction gearing, driven by link 90 and arm 91, Fig. 1 fixed to rock shaft 36. y

A continued rotatiouof wheels 59 and 60 bring the gum to position 92, Fig. 1, in front of ejector 93. shaft 94, which shaft is,pivotally housed in arms 95 on the outsidefof wheels 59 and 60, ejector 93 extending between wheels 59 Ejector 93 is fixed tov wheel 102 it is completely wrapped around the gum and the adhesive brought in contact.

One ofthe functions of the machine is to assemble the gum after being wrapped in two pieces of paper as described, into packages of two or more. -This is accomplished by bunch assembling wheel 102 having a multiple of slots 102', Fig. 2, one side of eac-h slot being movable as plate 103, which plate is held by parallel levers 104 on shafts 105. A torsion spring 105 Fig. 2 and Fig. 19 on one of shafts 105 will hold plate 103 in a closed position against the fixed side of its slot in wheel 102, said fixed side being shown at 106. When the gum is ejected by ejector 93 it will be injected between moving plate 103 and fixed plate 106, Figs. 2, 19. Inasmuch as the bottom face of plate 106 is on the same line as the top of the slots in wheels 59 and 60 the gum is deflected down equal to its thickness when injected as described, thus pushing moving plate 103 away from fixed plate 106. A second gum ejected by ejector 93 will be injected between thefirst gum and plate v106, this sequence of movement being continued until a slot in wheel 102 is filledwhen bunch assembling wheel 102 is revolved by means hereinafter described to bring an empty slot into position. lVheel 102 must remain in a fixed position while ejector 93 places' the desired number of gums in a slot, then rotate to bring anl empty slot in position' during the backward travel of ejector 93. v

Referring to Fig. 6: Cam 110 on shaft 111 will act upon cam roller 112 to lift cam fork 113, which will actuate bell crank 114 pawl 115 and hence ratchet 116, said ratchet being integral with gear 117, shown as a friction gear, and gear 118, shown in dotted lines, gear 118 being fixed to shaft 119. Shaft 111 is driven by pinion 120, driving gear l121 fixed to shaft 111. Pinion 120 is fixed to shaft 120, on one end, said shaft being journaled in bearing y120. Bevel gear 122, Figs. 4 and 8 is fixed to shaft 120, and is ldriven by bevel pinion 123, fixed to shaft 124. Miter gear 125 is fixed to the outside end of shaft 6, see Figs. 4 and 11. Miter gear 126 is fixed to shaft 124, which is driven rby gear 127 fixed to said shaft, through integral pinion and gears 128 and 128. Gears 125 and 126 are the same in size, hence `shaft 6 and shaft 124 move at the same speed.

The reduction from pinion 123 to gear 122 and from pinion 120 to gear 121 is equal to the number of gums assembled into a package, thev continued ratio, will be in the machine shown, five to one, inasmuch as five pieces of gum are wrapped into one package. Wheel 102 is fixed to shaft 119, said shaft being journaled in illow blocks 129, Fig.-5, and 130, Fig. 6. heel 102 carries sliding bloc-ks 131 in-slots 102', and in rotating will brin projecting lugs on each .end of block 131 1n front of lever 132, Fig. 2, and lever 133, Fig. 6 and'Fig. 19. Said levers are provided with projecting pins 134, Fig. 19, and are spaced each side of wheel 102, and pins 134 Will engage in the projecting lugs on block 131.

Levers 132 and 133, Figs. 2 and 6, are

111 will move. arms 132 and 133, Fig. 19,J

from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 6, thus moving sliding block 131, ejecting the assembly of gums from wheel 102 into a slot 139 in the transfer wheel 140, carrying with the assembled gums, (hereafter called a package), a piece of waxed paper 141, Fig. 2, and pushing 'back sliding block-142 in-'slot 139.

wheel 14o, Fig. c, -i's'xea to Sima 143 'journaled in blocks 144, Fig.4 5, and 145, Fig. :6.` Ont-he end of shaft- 143 is Geneva stop "gear 146,'Fig-.'5, driven by arm 147 on shaft '148, to whichl sha-ft is fixed gear 149, Fig. 2,

meshing with idler 150, vwhich in turn meshesvwith gear 121V on shaft 111. Fixed to shaft 143 lis gear 151, Fig. 5, driving gear 152. Gear 151 drives idlers 153 and 154,

and pinions- 155, 156 and 157,- Fig. 2 said VVaxed paper 141 is wider than the length of` the package'a'nd is cut ofi' by the knives described just as the package is moved from wheel 102 across de-flector 168, Fig. 6.

The transfer wheel 140 in revolving in i the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, will carry the package partially wrapped in wrapper-141 toposition 169. shown in Fig. 2 bringingthe 'protruding lugs on sliding block 142Figu20, in front of pins on arms 170, Fig. 2, and 171, Fig. 6. Said arms are fixedv to -shaft 172, gjournaled in the main frame, and given a reciprocating motion by link 173, Fig. 2, pivoted to arm 132 and arm 170. Block 142 in moving forward will push the package covered on three sides by waxed paper 141 into slot 174, in band carrying wheel 191 and against sliding block 176, between projections 177 on both ends of block 176. Wheel 191 is driven by gear 152, and is fixed to shaft 178 journaled in blocks 179 on the main frame.

One of the functions of the machine is vto assemble a paper cover around the package outside of the waxed paper 141 withv the# ends of the paper cover lapped and glued ltogether on the same side of the package as the lappedends of the waxed p'aper`141.

This is accomplished by putting the paper l cover cut into'correctsize,kwhich is narrower than the length of the ackage and long enough to more than go once around the package,-into .a'magazine composed of cornerl angles 180, 181, 182 and 183. The cover -rests on one end onneedle 184 and on the other end` on, roll 185,the action of which roll is the same as described heretofore for the delivering of a piece'of paper by roll 72. Roll 185 is driven b v shaft 186, sprocket 187 and sprocket 188 on shaft 148, Fig. 5

through a chain not shown. Roll 185 inv revolving will carry a cover out of the magazine against deflector 189, Fig. 6, apron 190 and againstl band' carrying Wheel l 191. Wheel191 has indents 191 agreeing in number with the number of slots and disposed around the periphery in alternation with said slots. Any indent 191 is spaced a predetermined distance from the following slot so that cover 192 will lap a predetermined distance across said slot. Cover 192 is carried by wheel 191 because it is bound` l place 194 in indent 191', on one end, wheel 191 in the middle, and guard 193 on the other end as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

A furthen rotation of wheel 191 will bring it to position 174 with cover 192 across slot 174, Fig. 6. The package on entering slot 174 as described will carry cover 192 with it into the slot, thus wrapping cover 192 around the package on three sides outside of waxed paper 141, which is folded around lthe package on four sides. Waxed paper 141 protruding beyond the ends of the package Will be tucked on one edge by projections 177 on sliding block 176.

A further rotation of wheel 191 will bring the package to position 195, Fig. 6, cover 192 protruding as shown, ready to have glue applied for holding the cover securely around the package.

The glue is applied to cover 192 by means of one or more fingers 196, which move in glue box 197, said fingers 196 being shown lowered into the glue in Fig. 2, and raised against cover 192 in Fig. 6. Fingers 196 are clamped to shaft 198, which is moved by pinion 199 on the outer end of shaft 198. Pinion 199 meshes with segment 200, and are shown as friction gearing. Link 201 is pivotally fastened to segment 200 and extension 202 on arm 138. Arm 138 being given a reciprocating motion as described.

A further movement of wheel 191 will bring the package to position 203 with sliding block 176 in front of pins 204 in arms 205, Fw. 6 and Fig. 2. Said arms are fixed D to shaft 206 journaled in the main frame and are given a reciprocating motion through link 207, pivotally secured to arm 170 and arm 205.

Sliding block 176 will push the package out of wheel 191 on to bracket 208 and under frame 209, which is yieldingly held by spring clamp 210, Fig.v 2, and 211, Fig. 6. Y

Cover 192 is then Wrapped around the package on four sides outside of paraffin waxed paper 141, with the ends lapped and glued. Wrapper 141 is tucked on theother or forward edge of ends protruding beyond the package by lug 212, Fig. 2 .and lug 213, Fig. 6, which lugs are part of bracket 208. Wrapper 141 then has a projection on both sides of the package on both ends of the package, such projections entering slots 214 and 215, Fig..2, and 216 and 217, Fig. 6.

A succeeding package being pushed out of wheel 191 as described willpush the forward package ahead of it, the projecting ends of wrapper each other on the ends of the package by moving across slots 214, 215, 216 and 217.

A sufficient number of packages being pushed out of Wheel 191 will push the leading package across plate 218 between end block 219,'Fig. 2, and block 220, Fig. 6. Plate 218 and end blocks 219 and 220 are with 1 ofi' of plate 218, bracket 208 and from under 141 being layed down over lectrically heated by heating element 221,

Wrapper 141 being completely wrapped around the package with the ends one above the other on the lower side of the package against plate 218, will be heated by plate 21.8 and blocks 219 and 220, the heat being applied through cover 192 by plate 218, and to the ends of the package by blocks 219 and 220.

Cover 192 being wrapped aroundv the package outside of Wrapper 141, with ends lapped and glued, and againsty plate 218, will have the glue set by the action of the heat as described, and will prevent the package from opening, after the packagepasses frame 209.

Air spaces are provided around plate 218 and heating element 221, which is secured to bracket 208 by insulating means, thus keeping bracket 208 from direct contact with heating element 221. Bracket 208 is bolted to the main frames, and is a brace between said frames.

Bracket 208 may be cooled by a. blast of cool air, or may be Water jacketed, if it is desired, as at 223. Y l f Additional packages being delivered on to bracket 208 the first package will be pushed ofi' of plate 218 on to a continuation 222 of bracket 208 and under a continuation of frame 209, thus cooling the package sufiiciently to harden' the waxed wrapper 141 and make a hermetically sealed'package.

The package is then complete and ready for boxing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new' in the art and desire to`secureby Lett-ers Patent in the United States is l a 1. In a gum wrapping machine, means 1 for assembling wrapped pieces of gum into apackage, said means consisting of a rotatable wheel having a multiplicity of slots therein,` said slots having one side fixed and one side yieldingly movable, and means for injecting the wrapped pieces of gum one by one between said fixed side and said yielding side of said slot.

2. A gum wrapping machine comprisinga Wheel having 'slots to receive slices of gum; means to revolve the wheel on a horizontal axis; means above the wheel to placepieces of paper' over the slots, respectively; means to hold slices of gum on edge above the level of the wheel; means to move said slices one by one flatwlse 4and onI edge into position above the slots respectively; and means to llO 'bination said slots have one side A'xed and one side yieldingly movable; and means for inserting the wrapped pieces of gum one by one between the fixed side thereby assembling the gums into a bunch; and means for ejecting the bunch f gums from -said Wheel. y

4. In a gum wrappingvmachine, the combination of a bunch assembling wheel as described; means for feedin 4waxed paper from a roll into the path 0 the bunch of gums when ejected from said wheel; means for ejecting the bunch from saidwheel;

and means for cutting the waxed paper off 4 into desired lengths While the bunch is impinged against the waxed paper, said cutting ofi ymeans comprising a blade intermittently moved by a driving mechanism synchronized 'with the 'bunch assembling wheel.

5. In a gum wrapping machine, the comof a bunch assembling wheelas described; means for feeding waxed paper from a roll into the path of the bunch when inserted respectively bination o ejected from 'said wheel; means for ejecting the bunch from said wheel; means'for cutting the waxed peper into the desired length while bunch is impinged against; the waxed paper; land a rotatable slotted wheel into which the bunch is inserted, thereby carrying the cut waxed paper into one of such slots, and wrapping the waxed paper around three sides of the bunch.

6. In a gum wrapping machine, the combination of a bunch assembling wheel as described; means forfeeding waxed paper from a roll into the pathof the bunch when ejectedfrom said w the waxed paper to the desired lengths while the bunch is impingedagainst the waxed paper and a rotatable slotted wheel into which the bu'nch is inserted carrying the waxed paper into one of such slots, thereby wrapping the waxed paper around 1three sides of the bunch; and

in said slots;- eachI of said slidable members being at the periphery of said slotted wheel when a bunch is ejected from the bunch assembling wheel' as described, thereby impinging the waxed paper between such bunch of gums and the sliding member; and means for cutting ofi' the waxed paper while said waxed paper is impinged as described.

7. In a um wrapping machine, the coma transfer wheel as described, a band carrying wheel moving in unison with the transfer wheel,` and means on the periphery of said band carrying wheel for conveying a piece of paper to juxtaposition with the transfer wheel from which a and the yielding side,'

lugs.

eel; means for cutting slidable members package of gums having waxed paper wrapped on three sides is inserted into said band carrying wheel, thereby wrapping thepackage of gums on four sides by the first or waxed paper and on three sides by the second piece of paper. l In a machine of the class described, a wheel having a series of slots for the reception of packa es and a corresponding series of indents adjacent to the slots, each indent being arranged to yieldingly carry a piece of paper to be wrapped around a package to be inserted in an adjacent slot. v

9. In a gum wrappingmachine, the combination-of a slotted wheel for carr ing a package of gum partially Wrap d 1n two pieces of paper, said wheel havlng indents upon its periphery agreeing in number with the number of slots, each indent carrying la piece of paper across a slot to be wrapped around a package of gum when injected into said slot, and slidin blocks in said slots, said sliding' blocks lgiaving on their outer edges lugs spaced apart a distance e ual to theI length of the package,.thereby oldin the protruding end of the first orjwaxe piece of paper across the end of the package, when the 10. In a machine "of the class described,`a wheel havingla series of slots for the reception of packag of indents adjacent-to the slots, means for moving .the wheel step by step, means for feeding a sheet of papel" to the wheel so that one edge of said paper will be inserted in a narrow space in one of said indents and,

the other edge of a guard against which the aper `impinges when the wheel is moved, parts being so arranged that the trailing package is-pushed between such es and a corresponding series part of the sheet is brought over an adj aoent slot at the time a package is to be inserted therein.

11. In a machine of the class described, a combination with devices for wrapping paper about pieces of such pieces in bunches, pino* waxed paper about, the bunches and holding them against expansion, means for wrapping covers over the waxed paper on such bunches and sealing said covers with adhesive while said 'bunches are still held against expansion, and means for applying heat to seal the waxed paper after the covers have been secured in place.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 1st day of March, 1923. g

' CLENCE E. STEERE.

Witness:

JAMES R. 'llowNsENn.

gumand assembling of means for wrap- 

